“We’re thrilled to be the first National Park Service unit to receive this specific designation, as this will only fuel our night sky preservation efforts.” – William Shott, Superintendent of Rainbow Bridge National Monument

The national monument is one of the smallest in the NPS inventory and includes only 160 acres of land that can only be reached via boat on Lake Powell or by backpacking in over Navajo Mountain.

“In the span of this remarkable natural bridge, we see symbolically represented the arch of the Milky Way across the night sky, a reminder of the long-held value of both Rainbow Bridge and the natural night sky to native peoples of the area.” – IDA Executive Director J. Scott Feierabend

IDA executive director J. Scott Feierabend said the designation honors the often overlooked night time natural landscape of Rainbow Bridge National Monument, which has been held as sacred by multiple tribes in the past.

Rainbow Bridge National Monument has become the world's 4th Dark Sky Sanctuary! This designation is twice as special as this site is sacred to Native American tribes of the area: ensuring the protection of naturally dark night skies AND cultural heritage https://t.co/A5HDO7D7Skpic.twitter.com/ixaDXrJtdo